Car Reviews > Peugeot > 508 1.6 HDi Active > Peugeot 508 1.6 HDi Active Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: £19,950
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Gearbox: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power/torque: 112 bhp/ 240 Nm
0-62 mph: 11.3 seconds
Top Speed: 118 miles per hour
Economy: 60 miles per gallon
Emissions: 124g per kilometre
Equipment: Bluetooth connectivity, 17-inch alloy wheels, climate control, USB input, cruise control, satellite navigation, rear-parking sensors

This clean diesel saloon makes a lot more sense when used with the manual gearbox.

It may be the most premium Peugeot yet, but the real question is whether the 508 will be able to set a new standard for CO2 emissions as well. The greenest model in the series to date until now – the 109g per kilometre e-HDi – also proved to be one of its biggest disappointments, thanks to a very jerky auto box. Fortunately, those after both low running costs and strong fuel economy now have another option.

The new HDi, which comes with a bhp rating of 112, features the exact same engine that is in the eHDi, but also has a 5-speed manual gearbox and manages without having a stop-start system. This does unfortunately mean that CO2 emissions rise to as much as 124g per kilometre and knock fuel economy down to 60 miles per gallon, which are 15g per kilometre and 4.2 miles per gallon worse than the eHDi. On the other hand, the difference in the overall quality of the drive is so impressive that the great majority of drivers are likely to be willing to put up with the compromise.

The box could arguably use a sixth ratio to further improve the sense of refinement when the vehicle hits motorway speeds, but there is no denying how light and precise it is to use anyway. Just as with the rest of the package, the engine is also quiet and smooth, although it has to be said that anyone expecting any great pace will come away disappointed.

The vehicle has a maximum torque rating of 250 Nm when at 1500 revs per minute, and so the car is perfectly content with cruising at low revs, but if a burst of speed does become desirable or necessary, it is easy to get caught outside of the fairly narrow power band, meaning that to keep the turbo on boost the driver has to be ready and willing to change gears on a fairly regular basis.

The top spec GT comes with double wishbone suspension, but lesser models such as the mid-range Active are only equipped with a simpler MacPherson strut front set-up. That being said, the difference between the two is actually fairly minor when in the great majority of driving conditions. The steering is rather light, and yet the nose is able to turn in speedily enough and there is zero in the way of pitching or rolling.

The 508 could hardly really be described as sporty, and yet at the same time it is certainly considerably more nimble a vehicle than either of the models which it is replacing, the 407 and the 607, a reality aided by the fact that it is almost 35kg lighter in weight than the former. Road noise is also nicely suppressed and the ride is pleasingly supple, which is pretty much the perfect combination for the target audience at which the vehicle is being aimed.

While not as sharp a drive as either the Ford Mondeo or the Vauxhall Insignia, Peugeot are clearly aiming for the premium appeal, and this model is certainly starting to narrow the gap on rivals in that market.

by Autoweb